Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.

Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll

  • If it doesn't work, it doesn't matter how fast it doesn't work.

    Ravera's observation on premature optimization

  • The computer is the ultimate polluter: its feces are indistinguish- able from the food it produces.

    Alan J. Perlis

  • The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.

    Ludwig Wittgenstein

  • Software is like sex: It's better when it's free.

    Linus Torvalds

  • The best book on programming for the layman is "Alice in Wonderland"; but that's because it's the best book on anything for the layman.

    Alan J. Perlis

  • You have to "solve" the problem once in order to clearly define it and then solve it again to create a solution that works.

    Anonymous

  • One can only display complex information in the mind. Like seeing, movement or flow or alteration of view is more important than the static picture, no matter how lovely.

    Alan J. Perlis

  • You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.

    Alan J. Perlis

  • Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

    Anonymous

  • Within a computer natural language is unnatural.

    Alan J. Perlis

  • If it doesn't work, it doesn't matter how fast it doesn't work.

    Ravera's observation on premature optimization